The World's Most Famous (Fictional) Receptionists

There have been some pretty famous receptionists within the world of film and television. They are people who have stuck with us and have been continually within our minds through the strength of their characters, portraying strong, single-minded workers who have made the viewing experience worthwhile through mannerisms, speeches and humour. As an outsourced reception outfit, we love these receptionists and we’d love to share some of our favourites with you.

So here is a countdown of the top 5 receptionists ever seen in the world of film and TV and we begin with…

Moneypenny

Miss Moneypenny, as is her official title, is the personal secretary to M who is head of British Intelligence. Throughout the James Bond movie franchise, Moneypenny has a flirtatious relationship with James Bond but has a limited role within the actual plot of the films. That is, up until 2012’s Skyfall, in which we got to see Moneypenny in the field rather than answering calls and taking messages. Traditionally, her relationship with Bond was used to show a ‘softer’ side to Bond in comparison to his license to kill occupation. Moneypenny often gives subtle hints that she is in love with Bond but never professes her feelings openly towards him. Perhaps her new role is due to the amount of virtual PAs which MI5 can now employ, allowing Moneypenny’s telephone answering duties to decrease and free up her time elsewhere. (Or maybe we’re just stretching!). Her role within the novels is very limited, as her role for the films was expanded as most of her lines were a merger of other characters that Bond has met. Now that she has an even bigger role in the rebooted series, we can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Pepper Potts (Iron Man)

Virginia “Pepper” Potts is the personal secretary/aide to Tony Stark who is the owner of Stark Industries. Throughout the comics, Potts’ relationship with Stark is very much different to the one portrayed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Pepper is involved in a relationship with Happy, Tony’s head of security and personal bodyguard. They both leave Stark Industries pursuing a life of their own until events lead them back to Tony. However, within the films, Pepper is single and remains at Tony’s side, eventually becoming CEO of Stark Industries after the death of Obadiah Stane and eventually becomes Tony’s partner and girlfriend and a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Joan Harris (Mad Men)

Joan Harris is seen as a femme fatale character; bold and sassy and is a woman that knows exactly what she wants. A strong-willed character, she has to put up with a lot considering it’s the 1960s and she’s a woman working in a male dominated office. It’s very much a different environment to that which today’s Virtual PAs face!

Dawn Tinsley (The Office)

Dawn’s life as portrayed at the beginning of series 1 of The Office is as a receptionist at fictional paper merchants Wernham Hogg. She is engaged to Lee who she met at school and who works within the office warehouse. However, her relationship with Lee is shown as troublesome to her and she is in fact in love with Tim, an office worker. The two have a relationship that is seen as happy and the two constantly mock Gareth who is butt of their many jokes. By the time the Christmas Specials came around in 2003, Dawn had moved to the US with her fiancé Lee and when the BBC stepped in to offer them a way home for a reunion they took it. At the Christmas party, Tim and Dawn reignited their relationship and the audience got the happy ending they wanted but didn’t think they would receive!

Janine Melnitz (Ghostbusters)

Janine Melnitz works as the Ghostbusters personal secretary and confidante who shares most of her screentime with Egon Spengler. Her role was increased in the second film, due to the unexpected popularity of the character.